Mike is in his office, sitting at his desk, facing his computer. On the computer screen is Maria and Jason, their faces each in a separate square on the open Zoom application.
“I know,” Mike says, clearly exasperated. “I’m trying to make cuts, but it’s hard. We’re in the middle of a lot of important experiments.”
“Dr. Fein, you’re in a significant overrun.” Jason states emphatically. “Either you majorly cut back on your expenses, or you’re going to have to lay someone off.”
“I’ve got two grants that are going to be reviewed this month,” Mike responds. “Let’s just wait and see how they score, and then I’ll make some decisions.”
“Unfortunately, the scores aren’t going to tell us much,” Jason argues. “Maybe if you get 5th percentile or something. But with the new rules at NIH, it’s almost impossible to know if a grant will be funded just based on the scores.”
“Maria, how much is left on my R21?” Mike asks.
“$20,500,” replies Maria. “But I’ve got both your salary and Tomoko’s salary allocated 50% on that. If we include the OTPS and animal costs that are currently encumbered, your R21 will only last another 3 months. After that, everything will be coming out of your startup, and that’ll last less than a year with the entire lab’s budget on it.”
“I’m going to get an R01 soon,” Mike pleads. “I’ve got to. I just wish I could get Navya’s paper published. The reviewers are killing me on my lack of productivity since I started the lab.”
“About Navya,” Jason says delicately. “Her re-appointment is set for June. And frankly, I don’t know if the institute can go through with it given your current funding situation.”
Mike lifts his right hand to his face and rubs his eyes with his thumb and index finger.
“Ok Ok,” Mike responds. “I’ll cut back on the expenses. I don’t know how we’re going to do the actual science, but I’ll cut back. Just give me a few days to figure it out…I’ll tell the lab at lab meeting on Monday.”
“It’s going to have to be a significant cut-back, Dr. Fein,” Jason urges. “Otherwise, someone will have to go. Chris is a grad student, and Tomoko just started her new appointment. So it’ll probably have to be Navya.”
“Ok. I know,” Mike replies. “Just give me some time. Let’s meet again next week.”
“Ok,” responds Jason. “But next week we have to make some final decisions.”
“Yes, next week,” Mike replies. “For sure.”
And with that, Mike thanks Jason and Maria and ends the Zoom meeting. But he keeps staring at the background screen on his computer, lost in thought.